For 16-year-old soccer player Yumnah Bhabha, the fact that conservative nation Saudi Arabia is now allowing women to spectate at soccer matches is inspiring to her.
Yumnah, of Indian and Muslim heritage, plays for Bantwana College Football NPC and wants to inspire more young girls in the community to play soccer.
The left-winger has been playing soccer for seven years after she had watched her friends playing and was immediately interested.
“Whether I flopped or not, it did not matter to me as long as I got to play soccer with my friends. And here I was, a small girl playing with the big boys,” she said.
“My mother then watched me play and was surprised at how good I was. I then signed up to play for Lenesia Wolves and was the only girl in a boys’ team. It was difficult because boys tend to be rough but then I got used to it. I played with them for three years before I moved to Randburg.”
In her own words, Yumnah eats, sleeps and breathes soccer and what she loves most about the sport is coming together with players from different cultures and backgrounds, and playing in one team.
“Playing as a team is always awesome for me and that is why I love to watch FC Barcelona play because as a team they are really good and that is a standard I aspire to.”
“Lionel Messi inspires me because although he is the best player in the world, the hard work that he has put in to be at that level and to maintain it is amazing. I know that to get to his level I will not only have to work hard but also be dedicated and push myself as much as I can.”
Yumnah was selected for the U17 national women’s team and she used the opportunity to learn more from team’s coaches and fellow players. Last year, she also travelled to Spain and competed in the Danosti Cup.
“I have made it into the U17 team and I want to build on that so I can one day represent South Africa as well as play overseas. One of the ways to move women’s soccer in this country to an international standard is to get more intense in training and the way we play.”
She will be in action this month with Bantwana College Football Club as the Women’s Winter League kicks off.
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